NCAA Basketball Rankings: Wisconsin Badgers, Michigan Wolverines Move Up

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 24: Andrew Smith #44 of the Butler Bulldogs and Jon Leuer #30 of the Wisconsin Badgers tip off to start their game during the Southeast regional of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at New Orleans Arena on March 24, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Big Ten did nothing but gain ground in the AP Poll this week as the conference went 13-1, losing only to the Tar Heels.

The Big Ten conference had an impressive opening weekend of basketball as the division went a combined 13-1 on the weekend, the one loss belonging to the Michigan St. Spartans (0-1) who faced the No. 1 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.

The Ohio St. Buckeyes (1-0) remain the highest ranked Big Ten basketball team with a No. 3 slotting. The Wisconsin Badgers (1-0, No. 14) and the Michigan Wolverines (1-0, No. 17) have both moved up a rank since their preseason rankings of 15 and 18, respectively.

The Illinois Fighting Illini (1-0, not in Top 25) were tied for a 44th rank in the AP preseason poll and started their 2011-2012 season with a strong 67-49 win over the Loyola of Chicago Ramblers. The fighting Illini will be in action again tonight, facing the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars at 7:30 PM CST.

AP Top 25
RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	North Carolina (62)	2-0	1,620
2	Kentucky	1-0	1,519
3	Ohio State (1)	1-0	1,486
4	Connecticut (2)	1-0	1,429
5	Syracuse	1-0	1,358
6	Duke	2-0	1,274
7	Florida	1-0	1,132
8	Louisville	2-0	1,122
9	Pittsburgh	2-0	1,084
10	Memphis	0-0	1,017
11	Baylor	2-0	962
12	Kansas	1-0	835
13	Xavier	1-0	806
14	Wisconsin	1-0	801
15	Arizona	3-0	607
16	Alabama	1-0	497
17	Michigan	1-0	475
18	Vanderbilt	1-1	454
19	Texas A&M	2-0	444
20	Cincinnati	1-0	410
21	Marquette	1-0	406
22	Gonzaga	1-0	311
23	California	2-0	295
24	Missouri	1-0	200
25	Florida State	1-0	132